"One wrong move, and you fall right into his trap."


    Comparing him to Leonard was difficult. He had a line he wouldn''t cross, which made him less extreme than Leonard. Their methods of dealing with Ste proved it: they were twopletely different types of predators.


    Leonard preferred direct, brutal, physical torment, while Sellers favored intricate, psychological schemes.


    It was hard to say which of the two was more dangerous. In any case, neither of them was a good person.


    Then again, how many good people ever made it to the head of a family like theirs?


    Coleman looked at Aurora. "Aurora, did Sellers tell you what he''s nning next?"


    Aurora shook her head. "Sellers never told me his n. If it weren''t for Queenie, I wouldn''t have even known he was behind all this."


    Coleman mused, "Sellers is doing this for two reasons. One, to help you. And two, because of the kidnapping... Have you forgotten, Aurora? Sellers ims Ste was the one who kidnapped him. I think this is his revenge."


    Getting revenge on Ste while elevating Aurora—Sellers never missed an opportunity to maximize his gains.


    A flicker in Aurora''s eyes showed she had considered this. She sighed softly and said nothing more.


    Just then, Coleman looked at Israel. "Anyone can spread the rumor that Ste isn''t one of us, but it cannote from our mouths. Do you understand, Israel?"


    Israel knew that some things were better left unsaid by the family. Sometimes, silence was more powerful than words. "I understand," he said.


    "Whether Ste chooses Joshua or not, we win," Coleman stated. "Our job now is to apply pressure and force her to make a decision quickly."


    A confident smile spread across Israel''s face. "That should be easy It''s not just the neutral shareholders anymore, even her own supporters are turning against her."


    Coleman turned to Aurora. "Aurora, go ask Sellers what his next move is. We need


    to be ready to coordinate with him."


    Aurora was silent for a few moments before giving a slight nod.


    ...


    Later that day, there was a knock on Ste''s office door. The visitors were none


    other than the shareholders who had been loyal to her mother, Nora.


    Looking at them, Ste asked, "Gentlemen, is there something I can help you with?"


    Mr. Crawford snorted. "Have you found the mole in thepany yet?"


    Ste paused. "Not yet."


    Mr. Crawford pressed, "Is it that you haven''t found them, or... have you found them and are trying to protect them?"


    Ste looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"


    "As everyone knows, the recently leaked information was under your sole control," Mr. Crawford stated. "No one else in thepany was involved in those projects, so the leak couldn''t havee from them. It must havee from you."


    He looked Ste in the eye. "While some on the board suspect you conspired with our rivals to ruin thepany, I know better I''ve.


    watched you work your way


    up, and


    I know you''d never do something


    like that. But the people around you? That''s another story."


    Ste asked, "Mr. Crawford, are you suggesting that Joshua is the one who leaked


    the corporate secrets?"